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LOS ANGELES — The death certificate for the 15-year-old girl found dead in the trunk of singer D4vd’s Tesla earlier this month reveals her cause of death still hasn’t been determined. ABC News obtained the certificate on Monday.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s cause of death remains listed as “deferred” — just as it has been for weeks as the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner continues to try to determine cause and manner of death.
Sources tell ABC News that lab tests and toxicology reports will hopefully answer how she died. Until then, it remains a death investigation and not a homicide investigation.
The death certificate also notes that she was not and had not been pregnant in the last year.
The Los Angeles Police Department released the following statement on Monday:
“The Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division (RHD) has been diligently investigating the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez over the past several weeks. At this time, we can confirm that Celeste Rivas Hernandez is deceased, and her body was found in the front trunk area of a Tesla belonging to David Burke. The vehicle had been parked at the location from which it was towed for several weeks, so Ms. Rivas Hernandez may have been deceased for several weeks before the discovery of her body.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has not yet determined the cause or manner of Ms. Rivas Hernandez’s death. As such, it remains unclear whether there is any criminal culpability beyond the concealment of her body. RHD is thoroughly examining every aspect of this case to uncover the truth and seek justice for Celeste Rivas Hernandez and her family.
We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we continue this investigation. Further updates will be provided as appropriate, but at this time, we are unable to answer additional questions.”
According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, the 2023 Tesla registered to the 20-year-old singer was ticketed 11 days before 15-year-old Hernandez’s body was found. On Aug. 27, a parking enforcement officer marked the car, noting the position of the tires, in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood where the singer had lived.
The body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the 15-year-old girl found dead in the trunk of a car in Hollywood, has been released to her family.
On Sept. 3, the officer issued a citation for the Tesla for violating a 72-hour parking ordinance.
Two days after that, the car was towed to a yard in Hollywood. Hernandez’s decomposed body was discovered in the trunk on Sept. 8 after a foul smell was detected coming from the vehicle.
Earlier this month, detectives were seen taking evidence, including a computer, from a Hollywood Hills home where the singer had recently stayed. According to the LA Times, the lease on the home had been broken early, and D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, had moved out.
Timeline of D4vd’s Tesla evidence:
- 8/27: position of tires was marked
- 9/3: citation issued for parking ordinance
- 9/5: D4vd’s Tesla was impounded
- 9/8: Hernandez’s decomposed body found
- 9/18: Home where D4vd was staying in the Hollywood Hills searched
The teen’s body was released to the family last week.
A body has been identified as a teenager after Los Angeles police found her deceased in an impounded Tesla registered to singer D4vd.
No arrests have been made and no charges have been filed in the case.
“In order for there to be a prosecution, law enforcement has to find some key pieces of information when it comes to a potential homicide,” said Brian Buckmire, ABC News legal contributor. “First, they need to figure out if it’s a homicide or not, and the autopsy report will help give them that. Then they have to figure out the who and the how in order to bring charges.”
LAPD is vowing to solve the mystery of how and why the teen ended up in D4vd’s trunk, and if the two had been in a relationship.
“Certainly, whenever you investigate a homicide, the detectives look at all of the associated issues as well, in this case, that is something that they would be looking at,” Chief Jim McDonnell said. “It’s an ongoing investigation. We have a lot of resources dedicated to bringing it to a conclusion.”
Hernandez, from Lake Elsinore, was in the seventh grade and had been reported missing by her family at least three times in 2024, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
A memorial service for the teenager is set for Saturday.
Online, fans have been taking a closer look at the “Romantic Homicide” singer’s lyrics and music videos that feature gory imagery and themes.
In one video, what appears to be a blindfolded D4vd, is seen in a bloodied shirt, standing by as two people put a body into the trunk of a car.
Another video depicts a girl’s arm being cut off.
ABC News contributed to this report.
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